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10 Favorite Books of 2018

January 5, 2019

2018 was a mixed-genre year for me. I read classics and new releases, fiction and non-fiction, series and standalones. Sooo many great books, but I’ve managed to narrow the list down to the top 10! Here is my round-up of the best books I read in the past 12 months. Join in and tell me your favorite 2018 reads in the comments below!

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SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME by KATIE MCGARRY

SYRM is, in a word, beautiful. It deals with forgiveness, trust, and family. Easily one of my top 3 favorite reads of 2018. I read it in three days (would have been one, but I hate when good books come to an end, so I stretched it out over a few days!) Seriously – get it, read it, love it! You can read my full review for SYRM here.

THE LITTLE BOOK OF HYGGE by MEIK WIKING

I jumped on the hygge bandwagon immediately after I found there was a word for the lifestyle I love most: cosy, calm days spent by warm fires with good books, tea and woolen socks. Essentially, hygge. With simplistically elegant artwork and ideas to bring more hygge into the home, this was a fun, calming read. I loved it, and I’m looking forward to picking up The Little Book of Lykke in 2019!

THIS SAVAGE SONG by VE SCHWAB

I read this one in a book club as my first book written by Schwab, and I got the sequel, Our Dark Duet, for Christmas! TSS was incredible and very well written. I can’t wait to know what happens to August and Kate in the next book! I’m definitely going to read more books by VE Schwab in the future. You can read my full review here.

THE FALL OF FIVE by PITTACUS LORE

The I Am Number Four series is one I’ve been trying to read through for the past few years. Some of the books in the series are better than others, and the novellas are pretty well done. The Fall of Five made me mad in a good way. It follows six of the nine survivors of an alien race as they track down the location of the elusive number Five – before the enemy gets there first. I think what made me mad about this book is that I’m still struggling to recover after my favorite character epically fouled up in one of the scenes…spoilers!

POLLYANNA by ELEANOR H PORTER

Such a sweet, happy story! I remember watching the 2003 film, and as I read the book, I felt that returning desire to be carefree just like Pollyanna. New Years resolution perhaps?

THE NIGHT CIRCUS by ERIN MORGENSTERN

Some love it, some hate it. For the first part of the book, I was in between. I can’t love it for the plot since there didn’t seem to be much heart-pounding action, but I do love it for the imagery. What The Night Circus lacks in suspense, it pretty much makes up for in beautiful, magical detail. You can read my full review here.

THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE by HEIDI HEILIG

Mainly set in 1800s Hawaii aboard a time-traveling pirate ship, this was a fun read for me. The story follows Nix, her sea captain father, and their crew. With the aide of maps, their ship can travel to any place in any time. The catch? The map must have been drawn in the year they want to travel to. Nix’s father is madly seeking a map that will return his ship to a time when his dead wife is still living. He’s willing to sacrifice anything, but would he give up his own daughter to be with the woman he loves? Sounds fascinating, right? And this one has a sequel too! Also, I need more Kashmir! He’s totally book boyfriend material. 😉

LES MISÉRABLES by VICTOR HUGO

This was the book I set out to read by the end of 2018, and I did! Hands down, this will be a lifelong favorite of mine. There’s more awe to it than the musicals and movie adaptations combined!

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by OSCAR WILDE

I buddy read this with my sister, and in the process we both found a love for play scripts. I really enjoyed the wit and mannerisms of the characters, and Ernest and Algernon’s sometimes cumbersome friendship is hilarious. I would love to see this on stage one day.

THE MIRROR CRACK’D by AGATHA CHRISTIE

I cannot express my love for Agatha Christie’s mysteries. They never cease to bring out the amateur detective in me. I devoured this particular book during family vacation, and oh! All the twists and turns! Miss Marple and her cunning wit were just as brilliant as ever! In The Mirror Crack’d, we meet Marina, a movie star in search of happiness, and Heather, a silly fan who raves endlessly about her idol. The most fascinating part about this book is how Miss Marple investigates not only the evidence laid before her, but also human nature.

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What were your favorite reads of 2018? And which books are you looking forward to this year? Share them in the comments!